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Keys and Surface Finishes

Keys are metal pieces used to transmit rotary motion and prevent relative motion between a shaft and wheel hub. There are three main types of keys: sunk keys, which are partially embedded in the shaft and hub keyways; saddle keys, which fit on the shaft without a shaft keyway; and round keys, which are circular rods forced into holes in the shaft and wheel. Common sunk keys include rectangular, square, parallel, gib-headed, feather, and woodruff keys.

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442 views4 pages

Keys and Surface Finishes

Keys are metal pieces used to transmit rotary motion and prevent relative motion between a shaft and wheel hub. There are three main types of keys: sunk keys, which are partially embedded in the shaft and hub keyways; saddle keys, which fit on the shaft without a shaft keyway; and round keys, which are circular rods forced into holes in the shaft and wheel. Common sunk keys include rectangular, square, parallel, gib-headed, feather, and woodruff keys.

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sathia
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KEYS AND SURFACE FINISHES

KEYS
A key is a metal piece used to transmit rotary motion between two parts like a shaft and a pulley.
Key is also defined as a metal piece inserted between a shaft and the hub of a wheel to connect these
together and prevent the relative motion between them.

To accommodate the key, a slot or recess is made in the shaft and the hub of a wheel. This slot or
recess is called keyway.

TYPES OF KEYS

The keys are divided into three main types

1. Sunk keys

2. Saddle keys

3. Round keys
SUNK KEYS

The sunk keys are provided half in the keyway of the shaft and half in the keyway of the hub or boss of the
pulley or gear. The sunk keys are of the following types

 Rectangular Sunk Key


 Square Sunk Key
 Parallel keys
 Gib headed keys
 Feather keys
 Woodruff keys

Rectangular Sunk Key

A rectangular sunk key is shown in Figure. The usual proportions of this key are:

Width of key, w= d/4 and thickness of key, t = 2w/3=d/6

Where d = Diameter of the shaft or diameter of the hole in the hub.

The key has taper 1 in 100 on the top side only.

Square Sunk Key

The only difference between a rectangular sunk key and a square sunk key is that its width and
thickness are equal, i.e. w = t = d/2

Parallel Sunk Key

The parallel sunk keys may be of rectangular or square section uniform in width and thickness
throughout. It may be noted that a parallel key is a taper less and is used where the pulley, gear or other
mating part is required to slide along the shaft.

Gib-head Key

It is a rectangular sunk key with a head at one end known as gib head. It is usually provided to
facilitate the removal of key. A gib head key is shown in Figure.
Feather key

A feather key is a key which permits axial sliding movement of the wheel (object) over the shaft
while both are rotating together. At the same time it transmits the rotational motion from shaft to the wheel
E.g. In drilling machine, gearbox, clutches.

Woodruff key

The woodruff key is an easily adjustable key. It is a piece from a cylindrical disc having segmental
cross-section in front view as shown in Figure. This key is largely used in machine tool and automobile
construction.
PIN KEY

 Keys of circular cross section are called pin keys or round keys. These are either a plain or tapered
rod forced to a hole that is partly provided in the shaft and partly in the wheel or pulley.

 Various types of pins are used for making a joint. It may be classified as
o Cylindrical
o Split
o Taper
o Spiral
o Threaded taper

SADDLE KEYS

Saddle keys are used to fit pulley or flange on a shaft without the provision of keyway. Since
keyway increases the stress concentration and thereby decreases the strength of the shaft. Saddle keys are
of two types namely

i. Hollow saddle keys

ii. Flat saddle keys

Hollow saddle key: In this key the lower side of this key is hollow to fit on the curved surface of the shaft.
The keyway is cut only in the hub of the wheel.

Flat saddle key: It is also a taper key that seats with the flat surface of the shaft and fits into the keyway in the
flange.

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